Designer of 3-D Printable Gun Has His 3-D Printer Seized
63 replies, posted
[quote]
The promise of home 3-D printing is that you can construct anything you want from the comfort and convenience of your own living room. For a group whose mission is to 3-D print a working pistol from scratch, however, that promise has been revoked.
[URL="http://defensedistributed.com/"]Defense Distributed[/URL], a collective led by UT-Austin law student Cody Wilson, has raised $20,000 online in a bid to design and develop the world’s first entirely 3-D printed gun, which it calls the Wiki Weapon. If it succeeds, not only will it build its own prototype, it will share the design publicly, so that anyone around the world with a 3-D printer can print his own pistol. It’s sort of the opposite of “Don’t try this at home.”
In a promotional video, Wilson waxes philosophical about the project. “The Defense Distributed goal isn’t really personal armament,” he says. “It’s more the liberation of information. It’s about living in a world where you can just download the file for the thing you want to make in this life. As the printing press revolutionized literacy, 3-D printing is in its moment.”
Turns out the company that leased Defense Distributed its 3-D printer doesn’t see it that way. In a letter to Wilson dated Sept. 26, the legal counsel for [URL="http://www.stratasys.com/"]Stratasys Inc.[/URL] informed Wilson that it was cancelling his lease of the company’s uPrint SE printer. “It is the policy of Stratasys not to knowingly allow its printers to be used for illegal purposes,” the company wrote, noting that Wilson lacked a federal license for manufacturing firearms.
Wilson has maintained that he doesn’t need a license, because he’s not planning to sell the weapon. But Stratasys was not impressed. [I]Wired[/I]'s Danger Room blog reports that the company’s representatives [URL="http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2012/10/3d-gun-blocked/"]showed up at his door to seize the device[/URL]. Now he’ll have to find another printer—and according to Danger Room, he’s considering obtaining a manufacturing license even though he doesn’t believe it’s legally required. Meanwhile, his group has [URL="http://defdist.tumblr.com/post/32381907035/imagine-if-your-biggest-part-in-the-human-drama"]posted Stratasys' letter online[/URL] with the caption, "Imagine if your biggest part in the human drama was to stand in the way of an innovation."
He isn’t the first to see a 3-D printer and think of guns. A blogger and gun enthusiast known as HaveBlue [URL="http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/133514-the-worlds-first-3d-printed-gun"]made headlines earlier this year[/URL] by 3-D printing the lower receiver of an AR-15 assault rifle. The digital blueprints are [URL="http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:11770"]now available for download on the Thingiverse[/URL], an online community for 3-D printing designs.
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQ6Q3BfbVBU&feature=player_embedded[/media]
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[URL="http://defensedistributed.com/"] His website /w Guns and Stuff[/URL]
[URL="http://www.slate.com/blogs/future_tense/2012/10/02/_3d_printed_gun_wiki_weapon_on_hold_after_stratasys_revokes_lease_on_printer.html"] Slate [/URL]
I'm sorta pissed off by this.
he was doing this to prove a point of what will happen with 3d printers.
[editline]2nd October 2012[/editline]
and when everyone gets their hands on one.
I have mixed feelings about this. While this printer would be absolutely amazing, there are people who don't deserve it because they wouldn't use it for the right things. Maybe do backround checks before selling them?
That sucks
[QUOTE=MightyMax;37886916]he was doing this to prove a point of what will happen with 3d printers.
[editline]2nd October 2012[/editline]
and when everyone gets their hands on one.[/QUOTE]
Once everyone has 3D Printers or when 3D Printers make stronger metal... Gun Control goes out the window.
Information flow must not be restricted, no matter the implications
If people abuse this technology to murder someone, punish them, don't collectively restrict everyone from using it simply because of the possibility of it being abused
I can see why they did it. As soon as he figures out how to 3d print a gun. As soon as people figure it out then people can print their own guns whenever they want. Which will only end badly.
EDIT: [B]Not saying I entirely agree with this choice.[/B] I am saying that their logic makes some sense.
I would love to see someone try and firing a round out of a gun made of plastic; Not only that, but they would also need to find the ammunition, in which case I am sure you are more than capable of finding a illegal weapon to start with.
[QUOTE=legolover122;37887079]I can see why they did it. As soon as he figures out how to 3d print a gun. As soon as people figure it out then people can print their own guns whenever they want. Which will only end badly.
EDIT: [B]Not saying I entirely agree with this choice.[/B] I am saying that their logic makes some sense.[/QUOTE]
It entirely makes sense. This is stupidly dangerous if you think about it. Normal licensed guns at least leave some sort of trail, and illegal guns are hard and time consuming to obtain for the majority of people. If they can make a reliable gun with this, I predicts all sorts of shit and legislation to come down upon 3D printing.
People really don't understand how easy it is to make a gun.
Really, all you need is a spark and a chamber to keep the pressure in. The bullet does most of the work. The hard part is making a gun that's accurate and can reload.
Also if you make a gun out of plastic chances are it's probably going to break after two or three shots. I don't know how strong the plastic is though.
[QUOTE=Clavus;37887151]It entirely makes sense. This is stupidly dangerous if you think about it. Normal licensed guns at least leave some sort of trail, and illegal guns are hard and time consuming to obtain for the majority of people. If they can make a reliable gun with this, I predicts all sorts of shit and legislation to come down upon 3D printing.[/QUOTE]
Yeah, stop technological revolution that would get us out of the shadow of massive conglomerations that produce and create everything we have, and remove any hope for actual independence from this system.
Yes, this is the best plan. [/sarcasm
I find it funny how so many people assume a 3d printer is like a magic oven. Just pop in a USB, turn a knob and bam, you got yourself a working tv.
Yeah criminals have access to expensive 3D printers but not guns
[QUOTE=Clavus;37887151]It entirely makes sense. This is stupidly dangerous if you think about it. Normal licensed guns at least leave some sort of trail, and illegal guns are hard and time consuming to obtain for the majority of people. If they can make a reliable gun with this, I predicts all sorts of shit and legislation to come down upon 3D printing.[/QUOTE]
Considering 3d printers right now can only print polymers and plastics, he would have a very hard time designing a firearm that wasn't 1 times use, and desgining one in a high enough caliber to where it could actually do damage. I wouldn't start worrying until 3d printers that can print metal become widely available.
[QUOTE=Trunk Monkay;37887203]Considering 3d printers right now can only print polymers and plastics, he would have a very hard time designing a firearm that wasn't 1 times use, and desgining one in a high enough caliber to where it could actually do damage. I wouldn't start worrying until 3d printers that can print metal become widely available.[/QUOTE]I believe he made it out of a metal powder held together with glue, then put it in a furnace which solidified it.
[QUOTE=Trunk Monkay;37887203]Considering 3d printers right now can only print polymers and plastics, he would have a very hard time designing a firearm that wasn't 1 times use, and desgining one in a high enough caliber to where it could actually do damage. I wouldn't start worrying until 3d printers that can print metal become widely available.[/QUOTE]
Meh I've printed stuff in metals before.
It's getting better every year. It won't be long now.
Can't actually produce ammunition though.
[QUOTE=HumanAbyss;37887191]Yeah, stop technological revolution that would get us out of the shadow of massive conglomerations that produce and create everything we have, and remove any hope for actual independence from this system.
Yes, this is the best plan. [/sarcasm[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=Trunk Monkay;37887203]Considering 3d printers right now can only print polymers and plastics, he would have a very hard time designing a firearm that wasn't 1 times use, and desgining one in a high enough caliber to where it could actually do damage. I wouldn't start worrying until 3d printers that can print metal become widely available.[/QUOTE]
I think 3D printers are a wonderful technology. I just predict that it takes ONE accident. Doesn't matter if the gun broke upon firing, doesn't matter if it was terribly made, it just takes one shot, and shit will rain down upon it. So there are three scenarios:
1) Best case, consumer level 3D printers will never reach the point where they can make a gun that is even remotely functional. There there'd be no problem.
2) Governments pick up on the threat early and restrict the tech available to consumers, like a limit on what materials the machine is allowed to print, or the accuracy. They can't possibly limit the designs because information is free.
3) There will be an accident, which usually causes the government to react unpredictably, in the worst case outlawing 3D printers from consumer use altogether.
I know we all love the tech, but that doesn't mean we should ignore the ways it could affect society if left unchecked.
I would lov to print a gun but not a functional one just one I can use as an accurate dummy. Anyways wouldn't the material break under the pressure of a bullet firing making it a really dangerous weapon to fire?
[QUOTE=Im Crimson;37887291]Can't actually produce ammunition though.[/QUOTE]
Quiet a few guides exist on the internet on how to manufacture gunpowder, shells, and casings.
One in regards to 12 gauge and .410 Shells: [url=http://www.scribd.com/doc/13116907/Expedient-Homemade-Shotgun-Ammo]Expedient Homemade Shotgun Ammo[/url]
[QUOTE=The fox;37887116]I would love to see someone try and firing a round out of a gun made of plastic; Not only that, but they would also need to find the ammunition, in which case I am sure you are more than capable of finding a illegal weapon to start with.[/QUOTE]
There are 3D printers that print in Titanium.
[video=vimeo;47522348]http://vimeo.com/47522348[/video]
[QUOTE=Clavus;37887367]I think 3D printers are a wonderful technology. I just predict that it takes ONE accident. Doesn't matter if the gun broke upon firing, doesn't matter if it was terribly made, it just takes one shot, and shit will rain down upon it. So there are three scenarios:
1) Best case, consumer level 3D printers will never reach the point where they can make a gun that is even remotely functional. There there'd be no problem.
2) Governments pick up on the threat early and restrict the tech available to consumers, like a limit on what materials the machine is allowed to print, or the accuracy. They can't possibly limit the designs because information is free.
3) There will be an accident, which usually causes the government to react unpredictably, in the worst case outlawing 3D printers from consumer use altogether.[/QUOTE]
This is the problem with everything you said. No one is taking into account the agency of actions and intentions. No one should blame printer technology. How can you blame technology when it's people who are at fault. Then, as said previously, we need to blame the people and not the technology.
Printers will reach that point. Restricting materials is going to prove to be limiting in the worst of ways. If 3D technology gets banned in it's entirety for commercial purposes, people will make their own or something and then the government will have to start fighting it's own populace over another issue.
[QUOTE=Key_in_skillee;37887184]People really don't understand how easy it is to make a gun.
Really, all you need is a spark and a chamber to keep the pressure in. The bullet does most of the work. The hard part is making a gun that's accurate and can reload.
Also if you make a gun out of plastic chances are it's probably going to break after two or three shots. I don't know how strong the plastic is though.[/QUOTE]
Yeah, in William Gibson's [i]Idoru[/i], he talks about a very cheap small gun, basically just a very short chamber with a firing pin, that's only used once to commit suicide.
EDIT: Also, in the movie "In the Line of Fire", the antagonist uses a plastic gun to get past metal detectors, which he only intends to use once to assassinate the President.
[QUOTE=HumanAbyss;37887456]This is the problem with everything you said. No one is taking into account the agency of actions and intentions. No one should blame printer technology. How can you blame technology when it's people who are at fault. Then, as said previously, we need to blame the people and not the technology.
Printers will reach that point. Restricting materials is going to prove to be limiting in the worst of ways. If 3D technology gets banned in it's entirety for commercial purposes, people will make their own or something and then the government will have to start fighting it's own populace over another issue.[/QUOTE]
The point of society is that it maintains a balance. To provide an extreme example: if you'd give everyone a nuke, would you trust everyone to not set it off? Governments are not some sort of soulless entities: they exist out of people trying to keep society running and growing, but also to protect people from themselves.
It's a textbook case of the anarchy vs. authority argument. I believe in a balance and I think that 3D printers that could provide anyone with firearms whenever they want is crossing the line. I'm not opposed to 3D printers as a technology, I just think that it shouldn't be left unchecked if these things become possible.
A gun made from plastic and/or resin would probably have pretty low durability even if they're cheap. If they were explosive to boot, they'd be like Tediore weaponry.
Now stop me if i'm wrong, but surely you've always been able to make guns? You know, with more tradition tools? I'm sure 3d printing could in theory make it easier but that's literally all it's doing, making the process easier, so surely in the eyes of the law the same regulations regarding building your own firearms should apply as before? Whatever the laws on that are, I'm not clued up there
I mean it's not like when CNC manufacturing was being developed people suddenly started getting their knickers in a twist about the prospect of people making their own lethal weapons
[QUOTE=JoeSkylynx;37887436]Quiet a few guides exist on the internet on how to manufacture gunpowder, shells, and casings.
One in regards to 12 gauge and .410 Shells: [url=http://www.scribd.com/doc/13116907/Expedient-Homemade-Shotgun-Ammo]Expedient Homemade Shotgun Ammo[/url][/QUOTE]
shhh...keep quite.
Lol, 3d printed barrels would have the shittiest rifling and would have to be replaced all the time.
Even with a .22 it would probably have blown up in his hands, making it quite literally a glocknade.
[QUOTE=Articsledder;37886976]I have mixed feelings about this. While this printer would be absolutely amazing, there are people who don't deserve it because they wouldn't use it for the right things. Maybe do backround checks before selling them?[/QUOTE]
Why all the boxes?
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